Famara beach in Teguise has hosted a round of the Spanish Kitesurf Circuit throughout the week, scoring for the Spanish Freestyle Championship and valid for the national wave championship. The local riders have left the bar high, especially in the women's category. Laura Fernández in Freestyle and Almudena Naranjo in waves, are the new Spanish champions of their categories.
On Saturday, the double elimination rounds of Freestyle in the senior men's and women's categories, and in the junior men's category, were held. Among the juniors, the same final of the single elimination was repeated, with the Andalusian Lian Whaley prevailing over the Catalan Patrick Blanc. An attractive final in which the riders made things difficult for the judges who had to assess the maneuvers.
In the women's Freestyle category, Laura Fernández from Lanarote had no rivals and clearly beat Lorena Neuman. A result that allows Laura Fernández to add the necessary points to be proclaimed Spanish Kitesurf champion.
The greatest equality occurred in the senior men's category. In the double elimination, the Valencian Sergi San Juan beat Álvaro Onieva. A second final had to be held between the champion of the single elimination and the champion of the double elimination to break the tie. Finally, the title went to Álvaro Onieva, performing incredible maneuvers, delighting the large audience that gathered at Famara beach.
Almudena Naranjo, champion in waves
Saturday was also used for the double elimination rounds of junior men's and senior women's waves. The Catalan Patrick Blanc won in the junior final against Pablo Fernández from Lanzarote, and the third place would be for Liam Whaley.
In senior women, the two-time Spanish Wave Champion, Almudena Naranjo, won. The Lanzarote native becomes the first woman to win the national wave championship for the third time. The podium of this event was filled with Lanzarote natives, with Sandra Ordas in second place and Laura Fernández in third place.
Tribute to Hugo Fernández
As soon as the men's Freestyle final concluded, all the riders took their kites and raised them into the air, observing a minute of silence and then lowering all the kites towards the sea. It was the tribute paid to Hugo Fernández from Lanzarote, a great fan of this sport who lost his life days before the celebration of the 2009 Spanish Kitesurf Championship.
